Grizzlies Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Win
Published on September 3, 2010 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
SAUGET, Ill.- The Gateway Grizzlies trailed 2-0 after one-half inning Friday night, scored twice in the bottom of the first, and then five times in the second inning and never trailed again. They went on to defeat the Southern Illinois Miners 9-5 in the opener of a three-game series at GCS Ballpark.
The win, coupled with a win by the River City Rascals keeps the Grizzlies (53-39) 1 ½ games behind River City for the final playoff spot in the West Division. Both the Grizzlies and Rascals have two games remaining in the regular season. A single River City win, or Gateway loss would eliminate the Grizzlies from playoff contention.
Brendan Akashian and Todd Martin each had run-scoring doubles in the first to put Southern Illinois (63-31) up 2-0.
Gordie Gronkowski hit the first of four Grizzlies home runs in the first inning, a two-run shot to left to tie the game. The Grizzlies homered three more times in a five-run second inning. Jareck West singled to lead off the inning before Breck Draper connected for his 13th of the year, a line drive that broke a window in the office building over the left field wall. Tyler Heil added a two-run homer later in the inning. Logan Parker capped the scoring with a solo homer to put the Grizzlies up 7-2.
Heil finished 3 for 4 with the homer, two RBIs and two runs. Parker was 3 for 4. Gronkowski was 2 for 4. Draper was also 2 for 4.
The Miners got an RBI double from Stephen Head in the fourth to make it 7-3. Gateway would go up 9-3 before Southern Illinois got on the board again.
Joey Metropoulos hit a two-run shot off Grizzlies starter Adrian Garza in the eighth inning to make it 9-5. Garza left following the home run. He earned the win, tossing seven full innings. He allowed the five runs on four hits. He struck out six.
Southern Illinois loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, but closer Jake Shafer struck out Metropoulos to end the game. Shafer struck out two in the ninth to earn his 11th save of the year.
The Grizzlies and the Miners continue the series with a 7:05 game Saturday night at GCS Ballpark.
Frontier League Stories from September 3, 2010
- Grizzlies Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Moran, bats propel Rascals to 8-3 win - Evansville Otters
- Beach Bums Close In On Playoff Spot - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Things Give Up Nine Runs After Rain Delay - Washington Wild Things
- Crushers Open Final Series with Bang - Lake Erie Crushers
- Dustin Williams, Gilberto Mejia, Steve Millar honored - Windy City ThunderBolts
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